The Drage Family Holiday Celebrations

Julie Bennett-Drage

Julie Bennett-Drage

Well-Known Member
 
Messages
227
OOC First Name
Julie ^_^
Julie was busy in the kitchen. Eliza and Erik were off playing in the playroom, and Evan was sleeping peacefully upstairs in her room. She had hoped that the older of the children at home would be interested in helping with the cookies but that was just not happening with her sanity in place. Placing the next batch in the oven, she cut the next batch out from the dough and placed the little holiday shaped sugar cookies on the pan. "Hope the older ones will be willing to help frost them when they get here," she thought out loud. Tristan offered to use magic to get this done faster so she wouldn't be so stressed, but she turned him down. Baking cookies was not something she wanted to take short cuts with. Now, the decorations that he was busy putting up outside, she had no problems with him using magic for. The surges in electricity inside were wor th the speed and quickness of his decorating. Living in a muggle home, but using magic to conceal it from the outside world made things interesting, but worth the occasional power surges.

Swapping out the pans, Julie realized that the kitchen was a mess. Sumner was due to arrive any time now, and Estrella and Jaken were going to be there the following day. The Bennetts were coming the next day as well, along with Estrella's friend Lily. The house would be full for the holiday, and she loved it. Taking a seat, she sighed as she looked around and realized that at her stage of pregnancy she was going to be wiped out by the time she got it all clean again. "I think Tristan will be getting this job," she said with a laugh, rubbing her ever growing baby belly. They had chosen to find out what this child was going to be, and little Elijah was doing his best right then to play soccer with her bladder. Breathing deeply, Julie tried to calm herself so the little one would calm too.

The timer soon went off and she waddled to the oven to pull out the last batch of cookies. Placing them on the cooling rack, she started to load the dishes into the dishwasher, wondering when her new step-son would be arriving.
 
Sumner slung his pack over his shoulder, reading the note once more before pocketing it inside his jacket pocket. He shook out the envelope and a small flat foil packet, slightly torn open, fell into his hand. Holding it up, he held it up and read the writing then as a laughing curse left his lips, it activated. He didn't like the hook behind his bellybutton feel of it, it was as horrible as a few of his classes who'd employed the same mode of travel had been. "Man that sucked." He held a hand to his head, still swimming from the harsh ride.

He looked around him, taking in the wrap around porch of the house he'd landed at. "Wow." The syllable drew out, neck craning as he took it all in. It was beautiful. The houses he'd grown up in had been much larger than this one. Hell he could've fit this house three times over inside them, and this one was pretty big. But there was something in this house, about this house that his rich stepfather and haughty mother could never have captured. Love.

Shaking off these feelings, trying to dispel his nerves, he stepped up and knocked on the door. Holding the strap of his pack with both hands, he waited to see what type of reception he'd receive.
 
Julie heard the knock on the door from the kitchen and as soon as she shut the dishwasher, she grabbed a towel and went to see which guest it was. Hurrying across the living room, she opened the door and saw who she assumed was Sumner standing there. "Hi!" she started out cheerfully, "You must be Sumner, come on in! It is freezing out there!" The towel hung over her stomach, concealing it for the moment, as she moved back to allow him entrance. "Welcome home," she added with a smile.
 
Erik was as happy as any kid around Christmas. He patrolled the halls of his home with an energy that rivaled the Energizer Bunny on crack, his small fingers yearning to demolish the boxes under the tree. A good number of glass bulbs had already met their demise in his wake. Tiptoeing out of the living room (he'd just swept a bulb under the carpet) he stopped, staring at the new arrival. Deciding to investigate, he approached his stepmother and the unknown male. "Who're you?" he asked bluntly, cutting right to the point. His large blue eyes had their star crossed first glance at the shiny foil. Without really thinking about what he was doing, he snatched the thing out of the older boy's hands, holding his prize. "What is this?" Thinking it might be candy, the badly behaved five year old tugged at the dotted line that announced, Tear here.
 
Sumner braced himself as the door opened, feeling awkward and nervous. His stomach was beginning to hurt and many things ran through his mind. The what ifs played havoc with him until he nearly jumped from his skin when the door swung open. Oh. His eyes widened slightly before the easily smile on the woman's face and her welcoming words disarmed him. "Uh yeah, that's me. It's um, it's nice to meet you." Welcome home. Would this now be his home outside of hogwarts?

His head whipped down as a little terror came toward him and snatched the inactive portkey from him. "Oh sweet Merlin," he groaned, slapping a hand to his face. Acting fast, he reached into his pocket and took out a few wrapped candies he'd grabbed from the bowl his roommate kept. "You don't want that," he said smoothly, quickly taking the packet and replacing it with the candy. He stuffed it back in his pocket, his cheeks stained red as his eyes flicked to his new stepmother's.
 
Shutting the door, Julie turned and caught the switch of the small foil packet with the candy. "Erik! Is that polite?" she started, highly frustrated as of late with his behavior -- nothing that was atypical of a boy his age. "What are you doing in here anyways? I thought you and Eliza were playing downstairs. Have you been trying to snoop again at the tree?" She moved forward, squatting down next to her younger step-son, her large stomach threatening to throw her off balance. "Do you remember what consequence we discussed if you were snooping? Do you want to have to wait an extra day than everyone else?" She assessed the small boys response, then stood. "Go find Eliza and bring her back here please. We have a new face in the house." Ruffling his hair, she sent him off with a little nudge before turning to Sumner.

"Sorry about Erik. He is a bit, well, he is is father," she started with a chuckle. "Oh, and sorry about Tristan's idea of a joke. Your darling father has a very childish sense of humor sometimes." She smiled and tried her best to put the boy at ease. "Why don't you drop your pack here for right now? I will show you to your room in a bit. Come on into the kitchen. You hungry?" She figured he would be, he was a teenage boy after all.
 
Sumner smiled weakly. "Uh yeah, I can see that." He shook his head. "Not really, not yet. I uh can I see my dad first?" He was anxious to see the older man again. Thankfully they'd established a connection when they'd met and he wanted to see him again. A familiar face in a time of upheaval. His stepmum's reaction to him had shaken him, he hadn't expected it at all. He got a two handed grip in his pack strap once more, looking around him uncertainly.
 
Julie smiled. This had to be difficult for him. "Come on. He is outside finishing up decorations. I assume he is in the back or you would have seen him out there." She headed down the hallway, hoping that Sumner would follow. The kitchen was warm and the mess from the cookies was still on the table and the counters were covered with the cooling cookies. "Sorry about the mess. I was finishing baking the cookies while the terror twins were occupied and Evan is napping." The kitchen was large and inviting, with a breakfast table in the corner looking out over the back yard. Julie crossed to the table and looked out. "I think Tristan is heading in now actually. Looks like the backyard is decorated." The yard was lit with colored bulbs, splashing against the snow in a rainbow of colors.
 
Tristan had been born in a cold climate, and he would die in a cold climate. Despite his preference to winter's bite, he preferred to be just on the outside of its maw. Putting up Christmas decorations was not his idea of a good time. He hadn't complained like he normally would have; it was the Holidays, after all. The forty-five year old was stupid enough not to grab a hat or gloves. He was shuddering in moments, using magic to blast away some of the cold air. Tristan worked quickly. In a few flicks of his new wand, the lights were strung up. Good riddance to any muggle who saw it; it would be their fault for sticking their nose where it didn't belong.

A tantalizing scent invaded his nostrils as he stepped into the kitchen. His eyes trailed from the plate of cookies to his wife and son. Another son that had popped his head out of a sea of faces. He smirked, unzipping his jacket and tossing it in the air, banishing it to the entryway where it would hang itself. "Sumner! So glad that you could make it." His voice was dripping with amusement, figuring that the kid wouldn't have taken much offense to his little joke. "Those cookies smell delicious, honey," he added, knowing that any attempt of his to bake by magical or muggle means would have ended in disaster. "If you want to follow me, I can show you to your room," he pointed out, starting towards the door.

A pair of warm cookies levitated themselves from the plate, sneaking through the air to Tristan's opened hand. When he had gotten into the hallway, he handed one to Sumner with a wink. "We don't have any pie just yet, I'm afraid. You'll have to wait for tomorrow." He grinned mischievously, biting the head off of a reindeer. He might have to break out into a full run in a few moments, but he guessed that depended on whether Julie had noticed or not.
 
Julie watched as the pair headed out the door to go up the stairs. Seeing the pair of them together, she had no doubts that Sumner was his son. They looked enough alike and even in just that short interaction, she could see they acted alike. Then she noticed the cookies floating out the door after them. "Tristan Wolfgang Drage! Those are for tomorrow you snitch! You're damn lucky I can't run right now or I would beat you down for that!" she yelled out the door after the pair, trying to keep from laughing at her husband's childish antics.
 
Sumner stayed silent, couldn't help it as being here overwhelmed him at first. She was so nice. Sure there were kind professors at the school but this was something altogether different. "Yeah uh, cool-dad." Sumner followed him, smiling weakly and eating his own cookie rather quietly. He didn't know what was wrong with him. Most of the times he could bluff his way through any situation. But with this one, he found he was drained from the past few months; from his mom and everything that had happened. Simply put, he wanted them to like him. And he wanted to belong somewhere, anywhere, but most importantly with his dad.
 
Erik was skulking about the tree once again. He couldn't believe his parents were making him wait the whole day to open his presents. Plus, his dad wouldn't take him flying. Maybe he could convince this new brother of his to take him out on a broomstick. Hopping off of the couch at the ringing doorbell, he was quick to turn the knob and tear the door open. A blast of cold air invaded the entryway. "Hi," he said almost disinterestedly, hollering, "Mommy, someone's here!" No one could expect him to remember all of these names. The sooner they all got in here, the sooner he could have his gifts. With a squinty eye, he stated, "If you didn't bring me any presents, you can't come in."
 
"Dear sweet mother- It's COLD!" Luke hollered as he leaped from the van, toting his heavy suitcase. "Second one to the door is a meatcrob!" This resulted in a race to the house, in which the twenty one year old won only because he had grabbed Lily and pushed her back. He pressed the button to the doorbell repeatedly, announcing to the whole house that the Bennetts had arrived.

Smirking at Lily, he looked down at Erik, who had grown considerably since the last time he had seen him. "Well, aren't you golden. How about this? If you don't let us in, I'll stuff you in the mailbox." He jabbed a finger over his shoulder at the very thing at the end of the driveway, his expression sincere.
 
Lily took off running as soon as she was out of the van. Luke had been tormenting her the entire trip. Why she had to floo to their house and then drive with them to Canada was beyond her. "Oh its ON!" she screamed at him, easily taking the lead over his sorry arse. That was until he shoved her out of the way like a 5 year old. Landing in the snowbank next to the path, she screamed out at him, laughing the whole time. "LUKE BENNETT YOU ARE SO GONNA PAY FOR THAT!" Jumping up and brushing herself off, she made her way to the door with her seemingly small messanger bag. The inside had been magically expanded to allow for her entire wardrobe to fit inside, if she so desired, thanks to Estrella last Christmas. Running up behind Luke, she grabbed a handful of snow and waited until he was done threatening Erik before shoving it in his neckline.

"Don't worry, Erik, I know I have something for you, even if your dork of a cousin doesn't," Lily said, sticking out her tongue at Luke as she walked past him into the house. She looked around at the entryway. It was so different from Julie's place in Wisconsin, but it still looked a lot like her style. She moved down the entryway so the others would be able to follow her in. Nervously, she looked around for Sumner, not quite sure why she had butterflies in her stomach over seeing him.
 
Julie heard voices outside and then the incessant ringing of the doorbell. Of course, Carl and the rest get here just as I am finishing up with diaper duty, she thought to herself. Hurrying through the rest of changing Evan, she washed up both of their hands and then headed downstairs to greet the latest arrivals.

Recognizing the pair in the hallway as Luke and Estrella's friend Lily, she smiled at the pair. "Hey you two, are you torturing each other already?" she asked laughing. The last time they were all together, the pair tormented each other endlessly, but seemed to enjoy it. Maybe someday they will get together, Julie thought, wanting to see her cousin's son end up with someone who was good for him, and Lily seemed to complement him well. She moved to give him a hug. "I swear Luke, you get taller every time I see you. And Lily, my you have grown up! I like your hair!" She moved to give her a hug as well. Turning to Luke, she gave him a small shove. "Go help your father, why don't you. Where are your manners?" she teased, then turned to move back into the house. "Lily, you can bring your bag this way. Estrella isn't here quite yet but I expect her and Jaken to be here soon." She walked into the living room and set Evan down on the floor, who took off crawling immediately to her toys.
 
Sumner heard the commotion and came out of his room to see what everyone was on about. Then he spotted her and stopped, hands shoved firmly in his trouser pockets. He'd dressed nicely for that day, wanting to make a good impression on his family. Although his scuffed up trainers were his only nod to his normal style of fashion. He leaned back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. He fought the emotions roaring inside him at the sight of some guy joking around with her. When she came in, his eyes locked with hers and he couldn't help the flame that roared within them. Walking to her, her gently took her bag from her. "Here, let me get that for you." His lips quirked into a smile normally reserved when they were alone. I missed you, he mouthed.
 
Lily followed Julie to the doorway to the living room, watching little Evan crawl around. Turning, she caught sight of him. Her heart seemed to skip a beat. Sumner, leaning against the wall, looking amazing. Her eyes locked on his and she smiled wide. "Thanks." She mouthed back to him, I missed you too, surprised at just how much she had missed him when they really were only apart for a few days. She resisted her desire to run up to him and hug him tight and plant a kiss on his lips since his family was there and had no idea about them at all.
 
Julie turned to see Sumner taking Lily's bag and couldn't help but notice the way they were looking at each other. Cocking her head to the side, she assessed the situation. They would know each other from school, they are about the same age. I wonder... A small smirk lighted on her lips as she thought over the situation. It might have been Estrella that had invited her friend and former roommate to their house, but she was pretty sure that Sumner was going to be just as happy with the situation. Julie decided to give them a chance to reconnect. "Sumner, would you be so kind as to take Lily up to her room to get settled? We have about five minutes before lunch will be ready."
 
Sumner didn't waste any time. Whoa. Coolest step mum ever. "Yeah, Lily, I'll uh show you your room." He paused to ask where it was before nodding and motioning for Lily to preceed him up the stairs. Following, his eyes not particularly on her shoulders. He had enjoyed talking with his dad and getting settled the past few days. Theirs was a nice house and his room offered him a comfort and a feeling of belonging he'd never felt before. When the turned into the hallway, he opened the door for her and waited until she was inside before leaning back against the door.

"So," he rubbed at the back of his neck, pushing off the door to stand by her. "Nice room." He looked around. "Enjoying your holiday?" Then his eyes locked with hers and before he knew it she was in his arms, his mouth pressed to hers, kissing her soundly.
 
Lily was a bit shocked when Julie asked Sumner to escort her to her room, but then smirked when they were given a time limit. It was almost as if she read their minds. Walking upstairs, she let him open the door for her, and walked inside. The room was small but cozy, a perfect place to spend the time she was here. She turned to face Sumner, not sure what to expect. Before she could answer him, his mouth was on hers and all coherent thought left her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, fingers threading through his hair as she allowed the kiss to deepen. Her body, which was chilled from the snow and temperatures outside, quickly warmed under his touch.

After a few minutes, Lily pulled back, resting her forehead against Sumner's. "I have missed you so much," she confessed before she could stop herself, "but so far, my holiday has been going well. How about yours?" She brushed her lips to his again, gentlely kissing him before allowing him a chance to respond.
 
"Mhm," he kissed her, "that's great, just great." He pulled her closer to him and began backing them toward the bed. "Yeah, it's going swell." Sumner grinned, kissing her, hands splayed on her back. One hand pressed on the bed, her knees hitting the back of it as he began lowering them to it.
 
Lily let Sumner control the situation, her own brain forgetting anything but what was going on right then. As she was pushed back to the bed, she pulled him down on top of her, tumbling them both onto the bed. Her hands slid down his back to the waist of his pants and rested there, playing with the hem of his sweater, sliding it up just a bit to find the warm skin of his lower back. She kissed him furiously, trying to make up for the days they were apart.
 
Sumner pulled up from air, his legs entwining with hers. His hand pushed at her shirt before going to the snap on her jeans. Twisting his wrist, it popped open. "She said, five minutes right?" His breath panted from him before crashing down to her lips. Yeah he knew this was wrong, knew it was stupid. Knew that if his dad came through that door, his arse was grass. But damn he'd missed her, wanted her, longed for her. Who knew when they'd be alone again? Just like any young man of sixteen, his brain was pure mush by this point.
 
Lily was breathless. "Yeah, she said five." Pulling at his sweater, she slid it up, exposing his back. Her legs rubbed his, encouraging him. She wanted this so badly, she didn't care that they were in his parent's house, that they could be busted at any moment. Her hands ran down his back, sliding just below his waistband of his pants. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her, her mind on nothing but what was happening right at this very moment.
 
Julie helped the rest of the family to bring their bags in and get things to the front hallway. Knowing that the younger pair had been upstairs for a bit now -- alone -- she decided to break them up for a bit. She was ready to see exactly what state her stepson would be in when he came downstairs. It would cue her in exactly what their relationship was. They seemed a bit too into each other when they were downstairs. It was funny that Estrella was the one that invited her and not Sumner. It started her thinking. Estrella probably had no clue about her friend and her brother. Hell, she didn't even know he was her brother.

Looking up at the clock on the wall, she decided they had enough time together for now. Walking to the stairs, she hollered up. "Sumner! We could use some help down here!" She smirked, knowing she was about to find out what they were up to.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top